GAMMA COVENTA – WASTE TO ENERGY PROJECT – STATE LAND -
(No. B/302) Mr E. Guimbeau (First Member for Curepipe and Midlands) asked the
Minister of Housing and Lands whether, in regard to the Waste to Energy Project of Gamma
Coventa, he will state if it will be located on State land and, if so, indicate –
(a) the extent of land leased,
(b) the location thereof, and
(c) the terms and conditions of the lease, including the yearly rental per arpent.
Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in regard to parts (a) and (b) of the question, the
Waste to Energy Project of Gamma Coventa will be located on a plot of State land of an
approximate extent of 23 ha, that is 54A49P, at La Chaumière in the District of Black River.
In regard to part (c) of the question, Gamma Coventa holds an industrial lease for its
Waste to Energy Project. The rental is Rs500,000 per annum for the whole site of 54A49P. This
rental is being claimed for the period of December 2006 to July 2008. Thereafter, the annual
rental will be adjusted as per the provisions of the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008
– at the rate of 3% of the market value of the land as assessed by the Valuation Department. The
period of the lease is from December 2006 to expire in June 2026 with a clause which provides
renewal for four consecutive periods of 10 years each at a rental reflecting the market value.
Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, now that the hon. Minister has confirmed that
the Gamma Coventa will be located on a piece of State land, can he confirm to the House
whether there will be no nuisance or pollution to environment?
Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this aspect is taken on board by the Ministry of
Environment, and I understand that an EIA licence was obtained on 16 November 2007.
Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker Sir, if there is no EIA, can hon. Minister tell the
House whether there is no pollution?
Dr. Kasenally: This is what I have just said, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. An EIA licence
has been issued in November 2007.
Mr Guimbeau: Is the Minister aware that, in other countries, Coventa has been
condemned and had to pay fines concerning dioxin and furan?
Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think there is a lot of misinformation about
the emission of dioxin. As far as my knowledge is concerned, because I was involved when I
was Minister of Public Utilities, mitigating measures are being taken to prevent the spread of
dioxin. I can confirm that, even in the city of Vienna, there are such usines in the middle of the
city. Only two days ago, I saw two of them right in the middle of the city of Jeddah in Saudi
Arabia.
Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would just like to table some information on
those fines. Since it is situated on State land, can the hon. Minister confirm to the House and the
public in general that there will be no pollution?
Dr. Kasenally: It would be difficult, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, to confirm that there will
be no pollution. There may be some form of pollution, which is controlled pollution or
controlled emissions rather, that will not be deleterious to the health of the people in the
surrounding areas and to the environment.
Mrs Perrier: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister just agreed that it’s very difficult to
confirm that there will be no pollution in that project. We all know that the Ministry of
Environment has a very poor human resource to monitor that the EIA licence is really applied
and respected. Can the hon. Minister inform the House how he can reconcile the project and the
statement he just made with the concept of Maurice île durable?
Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I better correct myself. When I said pollution, I
immediately corrected myself and said emissions which are controlled. Of course, we can
reconcile that with the philosophy of Maurice île durable, because it also means that we are
releasing less by incinerating our waste. We are saving on gas emission at Mare Chicose. It is a
balancing act, and this is probably the best one in modern waste management to incinerate where
you can regenerate a lot of other subsidiary activities, which will be beneficial to the country.
Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is clearly stated in the State Land Act and, if
you will allow me, I will just quote what it says -
“All leases of State land shall be subject to the condition that the land lease shall not be
so utilised so as to constitute any nuisance or to cause any detriment to or pollution of
the natural resources and the environment.”
So, the Minister confirms that!
Dr. Kasenally: Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Planning Division forms part of the
Ministry of Housing & Lands, which will concert with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry
of Tourism. There are multi-ministerial committees which look into all these aspects, to ensure
that there is as little if not no nuisance value of any of these industries which are planted.

Sitting 21 April 2009

(No. B/302)

Mr E. Guimbeau (First Member for Curepipe and Midlands) asked the Minister of Housing and Lands whether, in regard to the Waste to Energy Project of Gamma Coventa, he will state if it will be located on State land and, if so, indicate –

(a) the extent of land leased,

(b) the location thereof, and

(c) the terms and conditions of the lease, including the yearly rental per arpent.

Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in regard to parts (a) and (b) of the question, the Waste to Energy Project of Gamma Coventa will be located on a plot of State land of an approximate extent of 23 ha, that is 54A49P, at La Chaumière in the District of Black River.

In regard to part (c) of the question, Gamma Coventa holds an industrial lease for its Waste to Energy Project. The rental is Rs500,000 per annum for the whole site of 54A49P. This rental is being claimed for the period of December 2006 to July 2008. Thereafter, the annual rental will be adjusted as per the provisions of the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 – at the rate of 3% of the market value of the land as assessed by the Valuation Department. The period of the lease is from December 2006 to expire in June 2026 with a clause which provides renewal for four consecutive periods of 10 years each at a rental reflecting the market value.

Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, now that the hon. Minister has confirmed that the Gamma Coventa will be located on a piece of State land, can he confirm to the House whether there will be no nuisance or pollution to environment?

Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this aspect is taken on board by the Ministry of Environment, and I understand that an EIA licence was obtained on 16 November 2007.

Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker Sir, if there is no EIA, can hon. Minister tell the House whether there is no pollution?

Dr. Kasenally: This is what I have just said, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. An EIA licence has been issued in November 2007.

Mr Guimbeau: Is the Minister aware that, in other countries, Coventa has been condemned and had to pay fines concerning dioxin and furan?

Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think there is a lot of misinformation about the emission of dioxin. As far as my knowledge is concerned, because I was involved when I was Minister of Public Utilities, mitigating measures are being taken to prevent the spread of dioxin. I can confirm that, even in the city of Vienna, there are such usines in the middle of the city. Only two days ago, I saw two of them right in the middle of the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would just like to table some information on those fines. Since it is situated on State land, can the hon. Minister confirm to the House and the public in general that there will be no pollution?

Dr. Kasenally: It would be difficult, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, to confirm that there will be no pollution. There may be some form of pollution, which is controlled pollution or controlled emissions rather, that will not be deleterious to the health of the people in the areas and to the environment.

Mrs Perrier: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister just agreed that it’s very difficult to confirm that there will be no pollution in that project. We all know that the Ministry of Environment has a very poor human resource to monitor that the EIA licence is really applied and respected. Can the hon. Minister inform the House how he can reconcile the project and the statement he just made with the concept of Maurice île durable?

Dr. Kasenally: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I better correct myself. When I said pollution, I immediately corrected myself and said emissions which are controlled. Of course, we can reconcile that with the philosophy of Maurice île durable, because it also means that we are releasing less by incinerating our waste. We are saving on gas emission at Mare Chicose. It is a balancing act, and this is probably the best one in modern waste management to incinerate where you can regenerate a lot of other subsidiary activities, which will be beneficial to the country.

Mr Guimbeau: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is clearly stated in the State Land Act and, if you will allow me, I will just quote what it says - “All leases of State land shall be subject to the condition that the land lease shall not be so utilised so as to constitute any nuisance or to cause any detriment to or pollution of the natural resources and the environment.” So, the Minister confirms that!

Dr. Kasenally: Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Planning Division forms part of the Ministry of Housing & Lands, which will concert with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism. There are multi-ministerial committees which look into all these aspects, to ensure that there is as little if not no nuisance value of any of these industries which are planted.